Rwanda National Police in partnership with the UK based National Crime Agency (NCA) are holding a two-day workshop on prevention of child abuse.

The workshop was opened yesterday by the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Oda Gasinzigwa. Other officials who attended include the minister of Internal Security Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, Justice Minister Johnston Busingye, the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K Gasana, the High Commissioner of UK to Rwanda, William Gelling and the Prosecutor General, Richard Muhumuza.

Under the theme, "Protect Children from Abuse; Together we can,” the workshop aims at raising awareness about child protection and understanding forms of child abuse, signs of child abuse, behaviour of abusers and evidence required to prosecute offenders. The UK’s International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) will also be introduced in Rwanda during the workshop.

In her remarks, Minister Gasinzigwa said, "All children have a right to protection from abuse and promotion of their welfare wherever they are. Rwanda has demonstrated strong commitment towards meeting its obligations in realising the rights of children through various laws, policies and initiatives.”

She reiterated government efforts to integrate children from orphanages into families.

"Community based mechanisms have been put in place to prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families. Similarly, Rwanda’s integrated approach against any form of gender based violence and child abuse led to the establishment of Isange One Stop Centres across the country where victims can seek services,” she said.

Currently, there are 23 operational Isange One Stop Centres in different districts that provide medical, psychological and counseling services.

According to Police, the centres will be scaled up to all the 30 districts across the country before the end of this year.

In his remarks, the British High Commissioner, Gelling said, "The threat to children is real and it has never been more urgent to act together against it. Technology is enriching people’s lives and changing the ways we interact with each other. It offers endless benefits and possibilities to our children.”

He observed that childhood is being transformed, where current generation is growing up with unlimited access to information with ability to communicate and connect with people they have never even met.

The workshop is also being attended by several representatives of security organs in the country, officials from UN agencies, members of the Civil Society Organisations, schools and officials from the justice sector.

Participants at the workshop will share best practices in ending child abuse.

They will hold interactive exchanges on forms of child abuse like human trafficking, child neglect, sex exploitation and online child exploitation among others.

The International Liaison Officer of the UK based National Crime Agency, David Ward, pointed out that delegates attending the workshop are to utilise the experiences and diverse knowledge in raising awareness of the risks of child abuse, acquire more knowledge of the legislation and the requirements to respond to child abuse cases.

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